Surname Brogan - Meaning and Origin
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Brogan: What does the surname Brogan mean?
The surname Brogan is an anglicized version of the Irish name Ó Brógáin, which comes from the Gaelic “O’Brógáin,” literally meaning “descendant of Brógán”. Brógán was an ancient Celtic name associated with “marshland” or “marshy area.”
The surname was found mainly in the western province of Connacht, particularly in County Mayo. It is believed that the earliest Brogans were originally the Uí Fiachrach, a branch of the Deasmhumhain Dal-Cassidhe, who had descended from Fiachra, the grandfather of Queen Medb who ruled the Connacht region in 800 BC.
Many Brogans left Connacht early on for different locales such as the US and Australia. To this day, those bearing the Brogan name are scattered around the English-speaking world.
Throughout the years, many Brogans achieved great distinction in many different fields such as law, medicine, religious leadership, politics and literature. President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins (1941- ), Irish writer Brian Friel (1929-2015), and politician Bridget Moynahan (1963- ) all bear the Brogan surname.
In modern times, the Brogan family name is still held in high regard in Ireland and beyond. People bearing this name are known to be loyal, ambitious and independent, recognizing the importance of hard work, education and perseverance. They are proud descendants of a long and distinguished lineage.
Order DNA origin analysisBrogan: Where does the name Brogan come from?
The last name Brogan is most commonly found in the United States and Canada. It has its origins in Irish culture, being an anglicization of the Gaelic name Ó Brógáin, a name of unknown origin.
In the United States, the largest concentrations of Brogan can be found in California, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, and Illinois. In Canada, the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec are home to the name.
In the United States, the Brogan surname is common in urban areas in the Northeast. It is also very common in large Irish American cities such as Boston and Chicago. In the western US, California has seen large numbers of the Brogan name since the Gold Rush in the mid-1800s.
Brogan is also increasingly common in the Southern states, where it has become popular in cities such as Nashville, Tennessee and Savannah, Georgia.
Expressions of the Brogan name can also be found in the United Kingdom and in several other countries throughout the world. However, comparatively speaking, the vast majority of Brogans are concentrated in North America.
Variations of the surname Brogan
The surname Brogan has a number of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Bron, Brogann, Broggin, Broging, Broggyn, Brogyn, Brongan, and Bronkan.
Bron is an Anglo-Irish variation of the surname that is derived from the Old English name of Bruna. This variation is found mainly in the north of England and is most populous in the county of Lancashire.
Brogann has a Scottish origin and is an anglicised variation of the Gaelic name O'Brolagain, which means 'descendant of Brolagain', a personal name made up of the elements 'brod' (badge), and 'gal' (valour). This variation is mostly found in the areas of Argyll and Inverness-shire in Scotland.
Broggin is a variant of the Irish surname Brogan with an English origin, derived from the Old English name Bruna. It is most commonly found in the south of England, particularly London and Hampshire.
Broging is a variant of the Irish surname Brogan with a Scottish origin, an anglicised variation of the Gaelic name Ó Bhroigín. It is most populous in the area of Perth and Kinross.
Broggyn is a variant of the Irish surname Brogan, derived from the Gaelic name Ó Brógáin. Primarily found in Ireland, this variation is also seen in parts of Scotland, particularly the remote islands.
Brogyn is a variant of the Irish surname Brogan with an English origin, derived from the Old English name of Bruna. This variant is predominantly seen in the county of Bedfordshire, England.
Brongan is a variant of the Irish surname Brogan, derived from the Gaelic word of 'brón' meaning 'sorrow'. This variation is mostly found in the Irish counties of Sligo and Leitrim.
Bronkan is an anglicised variant of the Gaelic surname Ó Bhronaig, derived from the description 'son of Bronach'. This surname is mostly found in areas of Scotland, particularly in the western coastal areas of Scotland.
Famous people with the name Brogan
- Brad Brogan: Brad Brogan is an American basketball player who played for the University of Virginia from 2001-2005. He was selected as the ACC Defensive Player of the Year for the 2004-2005 season and went on to play professionally in Europe.
- Gemma Brogan: Gemma Brogan is an English actress best known for her roles in Amazon Prime’s Mad Dogs, ITV’s Primeval, and BBC’s All at Sea.
- Bernadette Brogan: Bernadette Brogan is an Irish actress who is best known for her roles in the television series Raw, Moone Boy, and Father Ted.
- Declan Brogan: Declan Brogan is an Irish actor who has appeared in the films The Guard, In the Name of the Father, and Becoming Jane.
- Jack Brogan: Jack Brogan is an American soccer player who currently plays for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
- Rob Brogan: Rob Brogan is a Scottish actor who has appeared in the films ‘47 Ronin, Macbeth, and In the Land of Women.
- Lucy Brogan: Lucy Brogan is an Australian actress who has appeared in several television series, including Home and Away, Sea Patrol, and Law & Order: SVU.
- Amber Brogan: Amber Brogan is an American singer-songwriter who has released several albums, including Little Secrets and Different Light.
- Brendan Brogan: Brendan Brogan is an Australian film and television producer, best known for his work on the television series 'Offspring', 'Rush', and 'Anzac Girls'.
- Tara Brogan: Tara Brogan is a Canadian actress and singer who is best known for her roles in the television series Divided, High Five, and Hatley High.